State Prisoners at Fort Lafayette

Description

"Landing state prisoners at Fort Lafayette, New York harbor, in 1861. Fort Lafayette, New York harbor, by the state prison of the republic during the Civil War, is built upn a shoal abut four hundred yards from Long Island, and is entirely surrounded by water. In shape it is quadrangular, with the angles pointing to the sea and shore diamondwise; hence it was formerly called Fort Diamond." —Leslie, 1896